THE President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has said that the July 18 national election of the NBA would be adequately monitored by the Department of State Service (DSS) and foreign observers to ensure the protection of the integrity of the poll.
News Point Nigeria reports that Osigwe said that the security operatives and foreign observers are being brought as independent people who will give an objective report and information at the end of the election.
He also dismissed fears of rigging being expressed by a section of members of the association and assured that the process and the election itself would be free and fair.
The NBA president explained that contrary to the allegations of candidate imposition against him, he has no special interest in any of the three candidates jostling to succeed him.
The three candidates are: Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, Lateef Omoyele, SAN, and the only female, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, all of whom are from the South-West geopolitical zone of the country.
Osigwe, however, vowed not to allow the imposition of any particular candidate or succumb to blackmail or reputation-damaging during the election.
He noted that a particular group known as “Egbe Amofin” had been making frantic efforts to impose a particular candidate on the NBA contrary to the constitution of the association.
He said that the NBA as a body would not object if one or two of the candidates step down for one another on their own volition, but will not succumb to blocking the aspiration of any individual to favour any candidate as being canvassed by the Egbe Amofin group of the South West.
Contrary to insinuation, Osigwe said he is absolutely committed to a free and fair election of the NBA that would produce a president that would command respect not only from lawyers but the entire Nigerians.
He dismissed the accusation that he was interfering with the process of the election, noting that the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) is an independent committee that does not take instructions from him or anybody in line with the NBA constitution.
To further allay the fears of possible rigging, Osigwe said he has opted not to vote for any of the candidates.
Insisting that anybody who wins the election deserves winning, the president appealed to those opposing the election to stop playing politics, adding that no one would condone rigging.
“In this election, I would want them to hold me responsible and accountable. We will ensure that this election is most credible in the history of the NBA.
“I urge those criticising the process to let democracy thrive.
“It is absurd to accuse me of imposing a candidate when the Egbe Amofin is openly imposing a particular candidate. It is not logical,” Osigwe said.
‘I will not vote in that election if that would give them comfort. I have never asked or forced anybody to vote for any particular candidate because all I want is a seamless transition.
“All the allegations of rigging are aimed at damaging the NBA’s reputation, diminishing the NBA, and there should be no room for emotion, blackmail, wild allegations or rumour because all we want is a President that would command respect of Nigerians,” the president added.
He confirmed the arrest of a service provider engaged for the election but disclosed that the person in charge had been released, though some of his laptops were seized.
Osigwe’s comments come amid concerns raised by a forum of Yoruba lawyers, under the aegis of Egbe Amofin Oodua, which called for the postponement of the forthcoming presidential election, citing concerns over the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
The group said delaying the election would allow the implementation of agreed electoral reforms capable of guaranteeing a free, fair and credible poll.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Egbe Amofin Oodua, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), accused the leadership of the NBA of reneging on agreements earlier reached with stakeholders on reforms aimed at improving the integrity of the election.
Olagunju, a former General Secretary of the NBA and immediate past Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), alleged that the NBA leadership ignored an agreement reached at a meeting involving presidential candidates and key stakeholders to postpone Saturday’s election and introduce reforms, including the use of members’ National Identification Number (NIN)-linked phone numbers for voting instead of email authentication.